April Hits & Misses (a recap)

Wow! April flew by in a prolific flash. Between the #AtoZ Challenge and various #NaPoWriMo activities there was no shortage of inspirational prompts and the writing/blogging community was alive. I’ve loved the energy — perhaps too much as I posted over 75 posts this month and broke all my records for readership/likes/comments. Thanks to everyone that had the endurance to keep up with me!

Here is a recap of the top three posts and the worst performer (based on number of views) for April:

No. 1: Turtle Soup: A Flashback

The Stats: 75 views (top post on my blog so far)

The Gist: This was a flashback (re-post) from my old blog and recounts my shared experience with Turtle Soup together with my Shanghainese father-in-law. It’s a wonderful recount of a cross-cultural exchange (if I may say so myself).

The Take-away: I shared the link of this post with my network here in China which is why it blew up, but I do think people genuinely enjoy reading about true life experiences, especially if they are heartwarming and joyful. There were three other flash-back posts this month that are worth a visit if you missed them: 25-Years Ago Today Part I, 25-Years Ago Today Part II, and Boys Gone Wild.

No. 2: Seriously Silly Poetry (#AtoZ)

The Stats: 56 views for top post (~500 views for entire series)

The Gist: An A to Z series of seriously silly poetry as part of the #AtoZChallenge. Each silly and/or sweet poem is illustrated.

The Take-away: This #AtoZ series was certainly the highlight of the month by bringing in the most new readers to my blog. And my theme of Seriously Silly Poetry was seriously fun to do. It took a lot of work but it was worth it and the series has now been compiled into a book: “Apples Eating Zebras and other seriously silly poetry” (available now in both paperback and e-book versions).

No. 3: The Golden Shovel April

The Stats: 52 views for top post

The Gist: This was a reboot of my Golden Shovel collaboration project including three unique golden shovel prompts and submissions from multiple members of the writing community.

The Take-Away: I love when the writing community get together and flexes our creative muscles together. The diversity of each persons approach to the prompt is always compelling. Thanks again to the community members that joined. If you want to give it a try, it’s never too late.

The Flop: none

While I did have some lower performing posts I don’t consider any of the posts this month a flop. Some just got lost in the flurry.

Here are a few little gems that you might have missed:

2020 NaPoWriMo Prompt #03: Zoe

This Glosa poem pulls from Claude McKay’s “Tropics in New York” and is one three different forms that I’ve explored this piece. It’s more of a poetic story then traditional poem and its worth checking out. This is one of a bunch of posts I made in response to NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts (which I’m still working through as I encountered these prompts halfway through the month).

Paint Chip Poetry: Earth Mama

The paint chip poetry series is a wonderful little collaboration project hosted by No Love for Fatties and is always worth a look and try. Earth Mama is one of the weekly posts in this series.

Flex Poetry Challenge: Love Envisioned (Ottava Rima)

Of all the poetry month prompts this month, I fell in love most with this series of prompts hosted by the lovely poet behind A Different Perspective. Each prompt inspired me to learn a new poetic form. Love Envisioned is one of the 11 posts in this series.

Be well,

Monty

• Jay’s Way: For the Birds
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Jay’s Way: For the Birds”
• Joseph’s Star: A Love Story
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Joseph’s Star: A Love Story”
• Golda: Woof!
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Golda: Woof!”
• Bryant: Polluted Waters
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Bryant: Polluted Waters”
• Coraline: 汕头 （Shantou）
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Coraline: 汕头 （Shantou）”
• Daisy Chain: Seeds of an Idea…
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Daisy Chain: Seeds of an Idea…”
• Emmett: Code Red
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Emmett: Code Red”
• Off-Broadway (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Off-Broadway (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Laurette: A Garden Query
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Laurette: A Garden Query”
• More Thoughts from My Journal
  Saturday has arrived. It’s Mid-Autumn Festival or “moon-cake” holiday here. I slept through the moon’s rise and fall last night, but I’ve seen some beautifulContinue reading “More Thoughts from My Journal”
• Marianne: Viola’s Light
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Marianne: Viola’s Light”
• Thoughts from My Journal
  I’m feeling a bit low today. I want to write but I’m uninspired. So I sit with my fingers on the keyboard and type theContinue reading “Thoughts from My Journal”
• Ovi: A Poem Named Ovi
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Ovi: A Poem Named Ovi”
• The Donna: A Girl Named Donna
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “The Donna: A Girl Named Donna”
• Prairie Rose (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Prairie Rose (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Amanda’s Pinch: Dangerous Detours
  This poem is a part of the poetic ‘scavenger hunt’ designed by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This time the theme is Names, as inContinue reading “Amanda’s Pinch: Dangerous Detours”
• What’s in a Name?
  Today marks a new month and if not factually, at least emotionally, the start of Autumn for me. On this morning’s eve, I was happyContinue reading “What’s in a Name?”
• A Perfect Morning
  A cool breeze under mostly clear skies. Home brewed iced coffee. Black and bold.Sitting in the garden watching commuters go by…But I’ve still got time.Continue reading “A Perfect Morning”
• Seeking Autumn
  A few images inspired by the temperatures finally cooling and catching a glimpse of Autumn on the horizon. Be well, Monty
• “From Here” – New Book Release
  From Here is a collection of poems that have been inspired by poetry, the poetry of others as well as the poetry of my life.Continue reading ““From Here” – New Book Release”
• The Orchard on Putney Hill Road
  The road home from school passed by an orchard;A fence protected the harvest from our thieving hands;But there were several old apple trees that reachedContinue reading “The Orchard on Putney Hill Road”
• a prayer
  A golden shovel poem/prayer. Under the harvest moon, When the soft silver Drips shimmering Over the garden nights,Death, the grey mocker,Comes and whispers to youAsContinue reading “a prayer”
• I’ve No Words
  I’ve no words ugly enough.I open my mouth and silence spews out.I write wildly upon the page in blank scrawls.A supposed writer, poet even, yetContinue reading “I’ve No Words”
• Believe
  The following found patterns were all generated from “believe”. Perhaps the diversity of results is part of the answer? Be well, Monty
• The Captain (‘s Quiz) is Back!
  Paul, over at the Captain’s Speech has been hosting the preeminent blogging quiz awhile now but was on a mini-hiatus. When I saw his postContinue reading “The Captain (‘s Quiz) is Back!”
• The Night Cricket
  ‘the night cricket’s humble prayer‘ “Doesn’t Every Poet Write a Poem About Unrequited Love” by Mary Oliver What is the night cricket praying so incessantlyContinue reading “The Night Cricket”
• It’s Time to Stand
  Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed. “It Was Early” by Mary Oliver It’s Time to Stand ‘Sometimes I needContinue reading “It’s Time to Stand”
• This Night
  This started off as a Golden Shovel using Mary Oliver’s beautiful poem entitled “This Morning”, but morphed into something different yet still very much inspiredContinue reading “This Night”
• A Patch of Peace
  A golden shovel poem. The sun has drunk the dew that lay upon the morning grass “Summer Wind” by William Cullen Bryant A Patch ofContinue reading “A Patch of Peace”
• Patterns in the Round
  Be well, Monty
• The Wanna-Believer
  Today I pray for the first time,As a wanna-believer,For a taste of life’s colorful palette;To feel your love, your acceptance;To accept that I’m worthy ofContinue reading “The Wanna-Believer”